When a ray of light passes from one medium to another, or from the air to a crystal it is bent or refracted; this is called single refraction and takes place in the diamond, spinel, and garnet.

Most of the other transparent precious stones possess double refraction—that is, the ray of light enters the crystal and divides into two parts, one following the ordinary laws of refraction, while the other part or extraordinary ray does not obey the usual law.

There are precise methods for measuring the indices of refraction, but they are not applicable to polished gem stones.

POLARIZATION OF LIGHT.

Polarization is a peculiar modification which, under certain conditions, a ray of light undergoes. This property is easier to observe than double refraction.

If from a transparent prism of tourmaline two thin plates are cut, parallel to its axis, they will transmit light when they are placed above each other with the chief axis of each in the same direction.

When one of the plates is turned at right angles to the other, no light, or but very little, is transmitted, so that the plates appear black.

In passing through the first slip, the rays of light have acquired a peculiar property, which renders them incapable of being transmitted through the second, except when the two are held in a parallel position, and the rays are then said to be polarized.

In some doubly refracting crystals the two oppositely polarized beams are of different colors, so upon double refraction and polarization depends the property of many gems which is called pleiochroism.

Pleiochroism.

The dichroiscope is a handy little optical instrument, that will readily serve to distinguish the diamond, spinel, or garnet (all singly refracting minerals) from the ruby, beryl, or any of the doubly refracting stones. This instrument consists of a cleavage rhombohedron of Iceland spar, fastened in a brass tube about 2½ inches long, and ¾ of an inch in diameter. A sliding cap at one end has a perforation ? of an inch square, and at the other end is a lens which will show a distinct image of the square opening when the cap is pulled out about ¼ of an inch.

The pleiochroism of many stones can be determined at a glance with the dichroiscope.

When a stone is examined by means of the dichroiscope, it will show two images of the same hue, or of different hues, these square images (fig. 1, A) forming a right angle and being more distinct when viewed from one part of the stone than from another.

When the images are identical in color, the specimen may be a diamond, garnet, spinel, or glass. Should a red or ruby spinel approach the ruby in color, a quick and satisfactory test can be made with the dichroiscope, as the spinel will show two images of one color, while the ruby will show one image of aurora red and one of carmine red.

The dichroiscope is inexpensive, costing but a few dollars, and is very useful for rapidly deciding the species of many stones. The following is a partial list of doubly refracting stones and their twin colors.